In honour of Kobe Bryant's 40th birthday, we're rolling out Kobe Week! Each day we'll be celebrating his finest moments, pondering the unanswerable questions and diving into a legacy that's among the most storied in all of sports.

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on Aug. 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pa. For 20 years he dazzled NBA crowds, earning the respect of legends and peers while inspiring the next generation of young players.